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The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an interpolated task in decreasing the amount of the Muller-Lyer illusion.The experiment consisted of three parts: In Part 1 the amount of illusion of one of the Muller-Lyer figure, the line with the arrow feathers (cf. Figure 1) was measured, in Part 2 some task given to the observer for 12-20 minutes and in Part 3 the amount of illusion of the initial figure was again measured. The experiment took place in the above order.If statistically significant difference is to be found between the initial amount of illusion and that after a given interpolated task, it may be considered as the effect of the interpolated task. The effects of various kinds of interpolated tasks were examined in this way.The principal interpolated tasks which were found to be effective in decreasing the amount of illusion were:Task A……repeating the adjustment trials many times on the Muller-Lyer figure with the arrow feathers.Task B……looking for the little dark spots presented one by one on different parts of the illusion figure (cf. Figure 3). The possibility of comparing the illusion figure with the variable line, during the task was excluded in later experiment.Task K……drawing the illusion figure many times on a sheet of paper.Task L……a task similar to A, but the illusion figure used here was one consisting of a line with the arrow heads.Task N……a task similar to B, but the illusion figure used here was one similar to that used in L.The interpolated tasks which were found to be ineffective were:Task F……looking fixedly at about the middle part of the illusion figure.Task I……a task similar to B, but the positions where dark spots were presented were limited to the intersecting points of the obliqus lines (cf. Figure 5).In addition, the author tried to test Kohler-Fishback hypothesis by using a figure shown in Figure 8. It was found that mere prolonged fixation on a given fixation point (a little cross mark on the center of Figure 8) itself had no significant effect in decreasing the amount of illusion, whereas the observation shifting freely on every part of illusion figure was remarkably effective.These results have led the author to the following conclusions:1. Careful observation of every part of the illusion figure is as effective in decreasing the amount of illusion as the repeated ‘practice’ of adjustment trials. The author would call this effect “the effect of experience”.2. In this experiment on “the effect of experience”, it is important to inspect carefully the whole figure structure, especially the part of oblique lines; the observation of the connecting line is not so important.3. The figure used for purpose of giving “the experience of seeing that figure” needs not to be the same as the initial figure. It is necessary, however, that the two figures should have some structural character in common with each other.4. Existence of “the pattern of satiation”, as mentioned in the Kohler-Fishback theory, might not be always the necessary condition nor always the satisfactory condition for bringing the effect stated above.From these conclusions, the author would like to suggest the necessity of postulating such an intervening variable as determines the interaction between the ‘percept’ and the ‘set’, and at the same time, is determined by the experience in ‘some’ aspects of the ‘percept’.

Using a fluorescence histochemical technique, a rich distribution of specific fluorescent nerve fibers was seen along the muscle fibers in the region of the choledocho-duodenal junction of guinea pigs and rabbits. Arterial injections of isoproterenol or epinephrine, each 10 μg/kg, close to the cholodecho-duodenal region of rabbits, usually decreased perfusion pressure through the sphincter of Oddi, an effect selectively prevented by propranolol and prolonged by pyrogallol. Norepinephrine, 10 μg/kg, at times increased, and at other times decreased perfusion pressure, and either effect was prevented by phenoxybenzamine and prolonged by pyrogallol. Phenylephrine, 20 μg/kg, increased perfusion pressure, an effect prevented by phenoxybenzamine. Arterial injection of the above sympathomimetic amines during perfusion of the duodenal lumen, decreased perfusion pressure; the response was not significantly affected by the α- and β-adrenergic blocking agents used. It is concluded that adrenergic nerve fibers are distributed in the smooth muscle in the region of the sphincter of Oddi in guinea pigs and rabbits and that contraction and relaxation of this sphincter in rabbits produced by sympathomimetic amines are mediated by α- and β-adrenergic receptors, respectively.

The present experiments were undertaken to investigate the mechanism of spasmolytic action of 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU). It has been reported that the spasmolytic actions of trihydroxybenzene derivatives and trihydroxypropiophenone (THPP) in the biliary system are partially due to the inhibition of catechol-O-methyltrasferase (COMT) activity. On the other hand, resorcinol, a dihydroxybenzene isomer is used as a synthetic material for 4-MU. Utilizing epinephrine as a substrate and S-adenosylmethionine as a methyl donor, the effects of pyrogallol and 4-MU on rat liver COMT activity were determined. Pyrogallol showed inhibition of enzyme activity depending on the concentration added, however, 4-MU was ineffective at any concentration. Contractile responses of the isolated rabbit aorta to transmural electrical stimulation and exogenously applied epinephrine were potentiated by pretreatment with pyrogallol, but were rather inhibited at high concentrations of 4-MU. The phasic and tonic contractions in the isolated rabbit sphincter of Oddi induced by KCl in normal nutrient solution were little affected by either THPP or 4-MU in low concentrations, but were inhibited, in high concentrations. On the other hand, these contractions were inhibited by papaverine in any concentration, but not so by atropine. The contractile responses of the isolated rabbit sphincter of Oddi to CaCl2 and BaCl2 in Ca++ free medium were significantly inhibited by THPP, papaverine and 4-MU, but not so by atropine. The transmural electrical stimulation applied to the sphincter of Oddid caused contractions of the two components, the initial one during stimulation and the other following stimulation. These two components were inhibited by papaverine and 4-MU, depending on the concentration added, but were only slightly inhibited by THPP in high concentrations. It was observed, however, that atropine usually converted the initial component to a relaxation. The late component was unaffected by atropine. The mechanism of spasmolytic action of 4-MU has been discussed herein.

Certain pharmacological properties of doxapram (DOP; 1-ethyl-(2-morpholinoethyl)-3, 3-diphenyl-2-pyrrolidinon hydrochloride hydrate) were studied in various preparations. Results were obtained as follows: The transient effects such as respiratory stimulation, rise in blood pressure and increase in coronary blood flow were observed with i. v. administration of DOP or dimorpholamine in anesthetized dogs. In the isolated heart of the guinea-pig, the coronary flow was not affected by DOP but both the heart rate and the cardiac contractile force were slightly decreased by DOP. The same results were obtained in the isolated atria of the guinea-pig. The contractions induced by direct (muscle) or indirect (nerve) electrical stimulations in the isolated diaphragm of the rat, were increased by DOP (>10-4g/ml) or dimorpholamine (>10-5g/ml). The isolated trachea of the guinea-pig was relaxed by DOP (10-4 g/ml), while it was contracted by dimorpholamine (10-7_??_2×10-4g/ml). Neither the secretory volume nor the components of the gastric juice were affected by s. c. administration of DOP or dimorpholamine in the Shay rat. The rectal temp. of rabbits was not affected by DOP. Inhibitory effects of DOP and dimorpholamine (both>3×10-4g/ml) on the oxygen consumption of the cortex slice of the guinea-pig were observed.

The results of 5 "lens model" interpersonal conflict (IPC) experiments, carried out in 5 countries: Czechoslovakia, Greece, Japan, Sweden and the U. S. were compared. Replicating earlier intranational findings, conflict reduction was found to be very slow. Although the subjects reduced the differences between their policies to a considerable extent, the consistency of their policies was also reduced, preventing the subjects from deriving the full benefits of the reduction of the policy differences, and leaving conflict at a high level. No reliable cross-national differences were found. In addition, it was shown that the differences found between American and European subjects in an earlier study were due to procedural differences between the American and European experiments in that study. It was concluded that the phenomena studied in the 'lens model" IPC experiments are independent of cultural factors, and reflect limitations in the human information processing system.

精神症状を伴ない,発作性にいちじるしい飢餓感と嗜眠を呈するものはKleine-Levin症候群といわれているが, 32才,男の本症を経験した.患者は来院の3ヵ月前より週1～3回の割合で空腹発作とそれに引き続き嗜眠に襲われた.睡眠は5～6時間続き,覚醒後は精神状態は抑うつの傾向を示した.この抑うつの時期に1度てんかん大発作があった.身体的,神経学的検査では微熱と白血球増加の他には特別の変化は認められなかつた.脳波ではα波の他に徐波成分の混入があり, dysrhythmicであつた.治療としては, diphenylhydantoinとphenobarbitalの併用により本症候群の3徴候はよく消失した.

Cord blood transplantation (CBT) from an unrelated donor is recognized as one of the major treatment modalities in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for children with hematologic malignancies. We analyzed the clinical outcomes of CBT for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Japan and identified the risk factors for the transplant outcomes. From 1997 to 2006, 332 children with ALL underwent CBT from unrelated donors, 270 of which had no prior transplant. Their disease statuses at transplant were first complete remission (CR) (n = 120), second CR (n = 71), and more advanced stages (n = 75). As preconditioning for SCT, total body irradiation (TBI) was given to 194 patients and, for the prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), methotrexate (MTX) was given to 159 patients. The cumulative incidents of neutrophil and platelet recovery (>20 K) were 88.5% and 78.4%, respectively. The incidents of grade II-IV, III-IV acute GVHD (aGVHD), and chronic GVHD (cGVHD) were 45.6%, 20.4%, and 19.2%, respectively, and treatment-related mortality was 22.6%. The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) at CR1, CR2, and advanced status were 47.4%, 45.5%, 15.0%, and 63.7%, 59.7%, and 20.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that MTX with calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) was associated with decreased incidence of grade II-IV GVHD (CNI alone: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06-2.83, P = .027; CNI + prednisolone (PSL), HR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.03-2.50, P = .036), III-IV aGVHD (CNI alone: HR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.55-5.91, P = 0.001; CNI + PSL, HR = 1.89, 95% CI = 0.93-3.83, P = .078), or cGVHD (CNI alone: HR = 1.78, 95% CI = 0.83-3.82, P = .143; CNI + PSL, HR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.24-4.82, P = .01), compared with CNI alone or CNI + PSL. At an advanced stage of disease, GVHD prophylaxis with MTX + CNI is associated with improved OS compared with CNI alone (CNI alone: HR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.43-7.15, P = .005; CNI + PSL, HR = 1.47, CI = 0.67-3.20, P = .332). Our retrospective study showed that CBT for children with ALL is feasible and GVHD prophylaxis with MTX + CNI is associated with significant favorable outcomes in prevention of aGVHD and cGVHD as well as survival advantage in advanced cases.

A 3 1/2-month-old girl developed aggravating atopic dermatitis and asthmatic bronchitis in the convalescence of her severe varicella, infected simultaneously with her mother following her brother. She had a marked eosinophilia and an elevated level of IgE. Clinical symptoms improved in parallel to the improvement of labolatory values within fortnight.

Seven novel polyhydroxylated steroids were isolated from the nucho-dorsal glands of the snake, Rhabdophis tigrinus. Biological activities of these steroids in inhibiting (Na+ + K+)ATPase and in producing positive inotropic action were examined in comparison with those of ouabain and gamabufotalin. Gamabufotalin was approximately 10 times more potent than ouabain in inhibiting (Na+ + K+)ATPase. Two compounds, compounds III and XIII, of the seven, produced nearly equipotent enzyme inhibitory activity to ouabain. The activity of the remaining five was relatively low among the compounds tested. All compounds exhibited more or less positive inotropic action in the papillary muscle preparations. The ranking order of the potency was: gamabufotalin > ouabain and compound IV > compound III and XIII > compound I, II, XII and XIV.

Phthalazinol (1) was converted to phthalazinol nitrate (2) and phthalazinol dinitrate (3) by treatment with fuming nitric acid and acetic anhydride. The structures were confirmed by spectral analyses. Introduction of the nitrogen dioxide moiety into the 4-hydroxymethyl group of 1 resulted in a potent hypotensive activity. Furthermore, the antiaggregating activities of 1 were remarkably enhanced by nitration of the 1-oxo and 4-hydroxymethyl groups.

The N-alkyl derivatives (1a-c) of 2-carbamoyloxymethyl-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-6-ethoxycarbonyl-5, 7-dimethyl-4 (3H)-quinazolinone exert a potent hypotensive activity in anesthetized rabbits and in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The hypotensive activity of these compounds is attributed to a calcium antagonistic action, inhibition of norepinephrine release, potentiating effect on adenosine response, effects on central nervous system, nicotinic blocking action and to functional beta-blocking action. The hypotensive effect is not mediated through excitation of adrenergic beta-receptors or muscarinic receptors.

When 50 microM cetiedil alone was added to a platelet suspension, increase in Na+ content, decrease in K+ content, and depolarization of platelet membrane were observed without change in the intracellular concentration of free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]1) or in the morphology of platelets. The cetiedil-induced depolarization was attenuated by the reduction of extracellular sodium concentration, while sodium transport inhibitors such as procaine and tetrodotoxin failed to modify the depolarization. On the other hand, thrombin caused such changes in platelets as increases in Na+ content, 22Na space and [Ca2+]1, decrease in K+ content, and membrane depolarization. All these changes caused by thrombin were inhibited by cetiedil. It is suggested that cetiedil brought the increased ion transport and subsequent partial depolarization, which might lead to modification of the reaction of platelet membrane induced by thrombin.

Effects of the toxic component of jellyfish (Carybdea rastonii) (pCrTX) on the smooth muscle tension of isolated rabbit thoracic aorta were examined. pCrTX, at concentrations higher than 10(-7) g/ml, caused slowly developing tension that reached its maximum after about 1 hr. This contraction was partially inhibited by pretreatment of the tissue with phentolamine (5 X 10(-6) M) or indomethacin (10(-5) M). The contraction induced by pCrTX was partially inhibited by nicardipine (10(-7) M) and markedly augmented by Bay k8644 (10(-6) M). In low-Na+ solution, the rate of rise of the pCrTX-induced contraction was significantly reduced. Removal of external Ca2+ inhibited the pCrTX-induced contraction by about 30%, while chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine, prenylamine and papaverine (10(-4) M) completely inhibited the contraction. pCrTX itself did not cause any contraction in saponin-skinned smooth muscle and had no effect on the Ca2+-induced contractile tension. It has been reported that pCrTX-induced contraction is attributable to the release of endogenous catecholamines and also to the increase in Ca2+ influx in smooth muscle (Azuma et al., 1986). The present results confirmed the previous suggestion and further suggested that a portion of the contraction is due to release of prostaglandin(s) and also to the direct effect on smooth muscle which is not dependent on Ca2+ influx.

1. In the rabbit isolated aorta and trigone of the bladder, noradrenaline, phenylephrine and clonidine elicited concentration-dependent contractions, which may be caused through activation of postsynaptic alpha 1-adrenoceptors. 2. SHI437, IK29, prazosin and yohimbine competitively antagonized the contractile responses induced by noradrenaline in the aorta and trigone. The pA2 values of SHI437, IK29, prazosin and yohimbine were 7.35 +/- 0.09, 7.47 +/- 0.10, 8.55 +/- 0.02 and 6.28 +/- 0.05 in the aorta, and 8.07 +/- 0.04, 8.30 +/- 0.03, 8.22 +/- 0.04 and 6.46 +/- 0.04 in the trigone, respectively. 3. SHI437, IK29, prazosin and yohimbine also possessed competitive alpha 2-adrenoceptor blocking properties, judging from their antagonism of the clonidine-induced inhibitory effect on the twitch responses in the electrically stimulated vas deferens of the rat. The pA2 values of SHI437, IK29, prazosin and yohimbine were determined to be 4.76 +/- 0.02, 4.74 +/- 0.02, 5.06 +/- 0.03 and 7.86 +/- 0.04, respectively. 4. SHI437, IK29 and prazosin inhibited the contractile responses elicited by transmural electrical stimulation without affecting the evoked 3H-overflow from the [3H]-noradrenaline-preloaded rabbit aorta. Yohimbine augmented the contractile responses and 3H-overflow. 5. SHI437 and IK29 at a concentration sufficient to inhibit noradrenaline-induced contraction failed to attenuate the contractile responses of aorta to KCl, 5-hydroxytryptamine and prostaglandin F2 alpha, and of the trigone to acetylcholine and histamine. 6. The present results suggest that SHI437 and IK29 are highly selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists, especially in the trigone of the bladder.

Four patients had a reccurrence of cutaneous lesions 1 week after being stung by jellyfish. Three patients had flare-up lesions after only one exposure to jellyfish. All of the recurring lesions were vesicular erythema, and the histological findings of case 3 corresponded to that of allergic contact dermatitis.

Spontaneously occurring lymphoma/leukemias in AKR and AKR.H-2 b mice are characterized by their expression of the Gross cell surface antigen (GCSA) and their weak immunogenicity. Although of a responder H-2 type, AKR.H-2 b mice could not raise cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs) against a syngeneic GCSA + tumor (AKR.H-2 b L1). In contrast, AKR.H-2 b :Fv-1 b mice served as a source for “antiviral” CTLs specific for GCSA + tumors such as AKR.H-2 b SL1, but not for CTLs against the cl.18-5 variant tumor, an antiviral CTL-resistant subclone derived from AKR.H-2 b SL1. In the present study in vivo tumor challenge experiments demonstrated that both the ability of the recipient strain to raise CTLs and the sensitivity of the tumor to the CTLs were critical factors which determine tumor growth and recipient mortality. Furthermore, the ability to raise protective immunity against AKR.H-2 b SL1 and cl.18-5 tumor challenge by preimmunization was investigated. It was not possible to raise protective immunity in CTL-nonresponder AKR.H-2 b mice. In the case of AKR.H-2 b :Fv-1 b mice, immunization with allogeneic GCSA + E♂G2 tumor cells leads to complete protective immunity—not only against parental AKR.H-2 b SL1 but, somewhat surprisingly, also against cl.18-5 variant, tumor challenge. Consistent with these findings and at the same time with an in vivo role for antiviral CTL, however, CTLs directed to the E♂G2, AKR.H-2 b SL1, and cl.18-5 tumors could be generated from the spleens of mice which had rejected cl.18-5 tumor cells. Interestingly, immunization of AKR.H-2 b :Fv-1 b mice with syngeneic AKR.H-2 b SL1 tumor cells failed to raise any protective immunity. Thus, the data suggested that the concurrent recognition of allogeneic components with tumor-associated transplantation antigens (TATA) might be important in the induction of sufficient protective immunity against syngeneic GCSA + tumors. Finally, the possible relationship of TATA and retroviral antigens, such as gp70 and p30 or as defined by CTL clones, is discussed.

The N-alkyl derivatives (1a-c) of 2-carbamoyloxymethyl-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-6-ethoxycarbonyl-5, 7-dimethyl-4 (3H)-quinazolinone exert a potent hypotensive activity in anesthetized rabbits and in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The hypotensive activity of these compounds is attributed to a calcium antagonistic action, inhibition of norepinephrine release, potentiating effect on adenosine response, effects on central nervous system, nicotinic blocking action and to functional beta-blocking action. The hypotensive effect is not mediated through excitation of adrenergic beta-receptors or muscarinic receptors.

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系, The additive bronchodilating effect of isoproterenol-phenylephrine aerosol following ipratropium bromide was examined in seven intrinsic asthmatic patients and seven chronic bronchitic patients. FVC, FEV1 and Zrs were measured before and 30 min. after inhalation of ipratropium, 40 μg. Then inhalation of isoproterenol, 600 μg and phenylephrine, 570 μg was added and the pulmonary functions were measured 30 min. later. The age, baseline values of FVC and FEV1, and the increases in FEV1 and 1/Zrs with ipratropium did not differ between the two. Isoproterenol-phenylephrine aerosol following ipratropium produced further increases in FEV1 and 1/Zrs in asthmatic patients but no additive increases in bronchitic patients. These findings indicate that the role of autonomic nervous system, especially adrenergic system, on airway obstruction maybe different between asthmatic and bronchitic patients arid the method applied in this study may be helpful in differentiating these airway disorders。

The adrenocortical function in patients with hypertension, myocardial infarction, and angina pectoris was investigated.1) These patients had higher plasma levels of cortisol than normal sub jects, and after ACTH infusion, the plasma levels of cortisol rose higher than normal.2) The increase of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids was not always so marked as that of the plasma levels of cortisol, but after ACTH-Z injection, the excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids increased much more than normal, indicating adrenocortical hyperactivity.3) The excretion of 17-ketosteroids was found to be decreased in these patients.4) The disappearance of exogenous cortisol from plasma lagged in these patients.5) From these results, it was suggested that the elevation of plasma levels of cortisol in these patients is due in part to modified metabolism of cortisol.6) Certain clinical evidences relevant to these data were discussed.

We analyzed the mechanism of UVB-induced cell death using the Jurkat T cell line. Apoptosis was assessed by measuring phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, caspase activity, the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), nucleosomal DNA fragmentation, and morphological changes such as chromatin condensation. The mitochondrio-nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was evaluated by confocal laser microscopy. The cell death pattern of UVB-irradiated cells was similar to the Fas-induced cell death pattern. However, zVAD-fmk inhibited the nucleosomal fragmentation of DNA but not the externalization of PS, decrease in ΔΨm, or mitochondrio-nuclear translocation of AIF. N-acetyl L-cysteine significantly inhibited the translocation of AIF induced by UVB. These results suggested that caspase-dependent and -independent pathways were involved in UVB-induced cell death in Jurkat cells, and the mitochondrio-nuclear translocation of AIF was associated with the latter pathway. In addition, reactive oxygen species generated by UVB might be involved in inducing the mitochondrio-nuclear translocation of AIF.

Sir.—The report by Meller and colleagues1of chronic multifocal symmetrical osteomyelitis reminds us of one of our patients with subacute symmetrical osteomyelitis.2The radiologic findings were so intense that neoplastic disorders had to be differentiated.3We would like to add this Japanese case to the review of patients having this controversial disease. Patient Report.—A 29-month-old Japanese boy was admitted to our hospital because of pain, marked swelling of his left knee, and fever. Six months before admission, he had refused abruptly to stand because of leg pain accompanied by low-grade fever and slight swelling of his left knee. He took conservative treatment in a few private outpatient clinics for ten days. Because his symptoms continued he was admitted to the hospital. He was treated under the diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis for 16 days and was discharged in improved condition. He had no fever but

The usual study of concept attainment involves a classificatory concept. E divides a collection of stimuli into two classes on the basis of the presence or absence of certain characteristics, and S is asked to discover the "concept" or basis for classification. A smaller number of studies have employed a scalar concept. E assigns a scale value to each stimulus in the collection by applying some rule to the numerical values of selected attributes; S is asked to learn to rate stimuli on this scale. To succeed on the classificatory problem, S has to determine which of the attributes are relevant and what conjunctive or disjunctive combination of attribute-values is common to the positive instances of the concept. To succeed on the scalar problem, S has to identify relevant attributes and find a way of combining the information into an estimate of the scale-value assigned by E. One might regard the classificatory problem as requiring a response on a two-valued scale; each response is either right or wrong. From this point of view, the scalar concept is a more general case. The present study examines how Ss use multiple cues in solving a scaledconcept problem. The desired response to each stimulus corresponds to a weighted sum of certain cue-variables. S is required on each trial to estimate the scale-value assigned to the stimulus by the (unknown) rule; he is then told the correct value.